The Content of the Theory of Yin and Yang

The five main components with the theory of Yin and yang are opposition, interdependence, relative waxing and waning, and transformation.

a. Opposition and Interdependence of Yin and Yang

Opposition refers to the idea that all things in the natural world contain two opposite components. The heaven is considered yang and earth is Yin; outside is yang and inside is Yin; day is yang and night in Yin; heat is Yang and cold is Yin.

Not only to they oppose each other, but Yin and Yang also depend on each other. Without the other, neither can exist. For example without outside, there would be no such thing as inside. This relationship of coexistence is referred to as interdependence. TCM holds that “functional movement” belongs to Yang, and “nourishing substance” is Yin. For example, if “nourishing substance” cannot be digested through “functional movement” of the kidneys, the kidneys would cease to move if “nourishing substance” is not provided.

b. The Waxing and Waning of Yin and Yang and the Transformation Between Yin and Yang

The opposition and interdependence of Yin and Yang help to explain the waxing and waning of the two. For example, while Yin wanes, Yang waxes, and vice versa. The changing of the seasons is a good example. The weather gets warm when winter gives way to spring, and hot when spring gives way to summer. These are times when Yin wanes and Yang waxes. However, the change between autumn and summer bring colder weather, which means Yin waxes and Yang wanes.

The transformation of Yin and Yang occur under certain conditions. For example, a patient suffering from a disease has a high fever, has a red complexion, and has a rapid pulse condition. All of a sudden, he feels calmer, his face is pale, and his pulse is almost cut off. This is an example of transformation between Yin and Yang.

The general rule in finding out if something is Yin or Yang is if something is excited, hot, moving, strong, bright, invisible, light, clear, upwards, and outwards it is characterized as Yang. All that are waning, restricted, cold, weak, dark, visible, heavy, downwards, and inwards are characterized by Yin. Yin and Yang property of things is not absolute, but relative, because of the intertransformation between Yin and Yang where Yin may transform into Yang and vice versa. Either characteristic of Yin or Yang can be divided into another pair of Yin and Yang. For example, day is characterized as Yang, but the period from dawn till noon is the Yang aspect of Yang, and the period from noon till dusk is the Yin aspect of Yang.